Clerk won't reinstate Rutledge's registration LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A local election official in Arkansas said Thursday he won't reverse his decision to cancel Republican attorney general hopeful Leslie Rutledge's voter registration over her being on voter rolls out of state, telling the GOP candidate she'll have to re-register. An attorney for Pulaski County told Rutledge in a letter that Clerk Larry Crane "respectfully declines" her request from earlier that day to withdraw his decision to...

Man sentenced to 7 ½ years for child porn FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — A 54-year-old Lowell man has been sentenced to 7 ½ years in prison for receiving images of child pornography. U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge said Thursday that Timothy Hirschey was also sentenced to five years of supervised release after the prison term. Hirschey pleaded guilty in April to the charge in federal court. At sentencing, the government presented the court with evidence that Hirschey allegedly possessed more than ...

Ex-agency official pleads guilty in bribery scheme LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A former deputy director of the Arkansas Department of Human Services has pleaded guilty to providing official assistance in exchange for bribes from the owner of two mental health companies. Federal officials announced Thursday that Steven B. Jones, 29, had pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribery charges. Jones, of Marion, will be sentenced April 2, 2015. According to his plea agreement, Jones solicited and accepted multip...

Master opens hearing in wage increase lawsuit LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A lawyer for a Little Rock businessman who hopes to strike a minimum wage increase from next month's ballot told a special master for the state Supreme Court on Thursday that a "sloppy process" doomed the idea from the start. David Sterling, representing businessman Jackson T. Stephens Jr., said a proposal to raise the minimum wage from $6.25 to $8.50 per hour by 2017 shouldn't go before voters. He said the Secretary of Stat...

Justices weigh Arkansas voter ID requirement LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Supreme Court justices on Thursday questioned whether the state's constitution allows for requiring voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot as they heard arguments on whether the voter ID law should be upheld. The hearing came a little over two weeks before early voting begins for the November election. A Pulaski County judge struck down the 2013 law as unconstitutional in May, but suspended his ...

Group suing Greenwood over annexation proposal GREENWOOD (AP) — A homeowners group in a western Arkansas city is asking a court to remove an annexation proposal from the November ballot. The Shadow Lake Estates Property Owners Association is suing the city of Greenwood, the Times Record reported. The suit claims the city didn't follow required steps related to the annexation proposal and showed favoritism to certain property owners by excluding them from being added to Greenwood. The plain...

Arkansas sees revenue drop in September LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas finance officials say the state's revenue in September dipped below expectations by nearly $10 million. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said Thursday that net available revenue in September totaled $520.7 million. That's $2.1 million below the same month last year and $9.7 million below the state's forecast. Finance officials say a drop in sales tax collections accounted for $8.1 million of the...

Court sets oral arguments in Saline County case LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for Oct. 23 in a lawsuit that seeks to place a measure on the November ballot that would legalize alcohol sales in Saline County. Circuit Judge Grisham Phillips ruled last month that a petition to place alcohol sales on the November ballot in Saline County fell short by nearly 90 signatures. Phillips had disqualified 159 signatures. A group called Our Community, Our Dol...

Wynne police to up presence at high school WYNNE (AP) — Officials say more police officers will be present next week at Wynne Senior High School after 17 students were involved in a fight. Wynne police say the fight broke out last Friday during a lunch period. No one was hurt in the fight, though school officials say a bystander twisted her ankle. School principal Keith Watson says the fight only last a few minutes and more than 10 teachers responded immediately. School officials say 1...

Police: Foreman man grew marijuana near downtown FOREMAN (AP) — Police have arrested a southwest Arkansas man who they say was growing at least $10,000 worth of marijuana plants near the center of Foreman. The Texarkana Gazette reported the 50-year-old man faces four drug-related charges. Foreman Marshal Alex Mathis said authorities found more than 10 plants growing in an abandoned lot across the street from a funeral home. He says the larger plants were tied down to make them less visible. ...

Clinton School hosting Fulbright Scholar LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service will host Sedef Akgüngör as a Fulbright Scholar in Residence until the end of February 2015. The school is hosting Akgüngör in partnership with Philander Smith College. Akgüngör is a well-known economist and internationalist from Turkey. During her time at the Clinton School of Public Service and Philander Smith College, Akgüngör will work with both schools to devel...

Stormy weather forecast for state today LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Storm Prediction Center said all of Arkansas is at a slight risk for severe weather today as a band of thunderstorms forms along a cold front moving through the state. Forecasters said the best chances for storms will be late Thursday afternoon and evening, with damaging straight-line winds the main threat. The National Weather Service stated large hail and heavy rainfall are also possible with the storm system. Some loc...

Clerk cancels AG candidate's voter registration LITTLE ROCK (AP) — An Arkansas election official said Wednesday he removed Republican attorney general hopeful Leslie Rutledge from the voter rolls because she also is registered to vote in Washington, D.C., a move the GOP candidate denounced as politically motivated. Pulaski County Clerk Larry Crane, a Democrat, said he canceled Rutledge's voter registration after his office learned she is registered to vote "in at least one other jurisdictio...

Early leaf spot confirmed in Arkansas NEWPORT (AP) — Arkansas researchers said a disease that can cut peanut yields by half if left unchecked has been discovered in a plot near Newport. Early leaf spot is a fungal disease that affects the leaves of peanut plants. Symptoms include circular brown lesions with a yellow halo. The fungus also produces silvery, fuzzy tufts of spores on the top side of the leaf. Plant pathologist Travis Faske said it's unlikely this year's peanut crop wi...

Beebe names special justice for gay marriage case LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Gov. Mike Beebe has named a retired judge from Harrison to fill in as a special justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court in the lawsuit challenging the state's gay marriage ban. Beebe on Wednesday named retired Judge Robert W. McCorkindale to serve on the court as it considers whether to uphold the 2004 constitutional amendment and earlier state law defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Ch...

Arkansas sets yield record in winter wheat JONESBORO (AP) — Arkansas' winter wheat farmers have set a state average yield record for the second straight year. Figures released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service show that state farmers got 63 bushels per acre in 2014— one bushel per acre above the previous record. The "Small Grains" summary released Tuesday also showed that Arkansas harvested 395,000 acres, with total production at nearly 25 million bushels. That represents...

Escaped inmate caught near FOUKE (AP) — Arkansas prison officials say they have caught an escaped inmate who walked away from a work crew last week. A spokeswoman for the Department of Community Correction said officers caught 35-year-old Jeremy Pifer on Wednesday hiding in a shed near Fouke in southwestern Arkansas. Spokeswoman Dina Tyler said Pifer will go to Miller County where he will be questioned and then will be transferred to the Department of Correction. Arkans...

Funeral set for slain real estate agent NORTH LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Funeral services have been set for an Arkansas real estate agent who was found dead five days after she never returned from an appointment to show a house. Crye-Leike (lyke) Realtors said the funeral for Beverly Carter will be held Saturday morning at First Pentecostal Church in North Little Rock. The real estate company says Carter was the firm's top listing agent and that she had "an infectious laugh that brightened ...

Police: 2 arrested in Fort Smith shooting death FORT SMITH (AP) — Fort Smith police have arrested two suspects connected to a shooting that killed one man and critically injured his brother. The Southwest Times Record reported a 22-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were arrested Tuesday. They are still searching for another 15-year-old boy in connection to the Saturday slaying of 35-year-old Christopher Morris. Police say the shooting occurred after a victim grabbed a shotgun following a v...

Realtor's body found; suspect pleads not guiltyLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A man accused of abducting and killing a real estate agent in rural Arkansas pleaded not guilty Tuesday to preliminary charges of kidnapping and capital murder, hours after the woman's body was discovered in a shallow grave. Arron Michael Lewis appeared in court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to one count each of capital murder, kidnapping and robbery, as well as four weapons charges, according to the office of Pulaski...